Blazers’ Scoot Henderson Suffers Torn Left Hamstring
Guard Scoot Henderson sustained a torn left hamstring during a workout this week, the Trail Blazers announced in a press release.
According to the team, Henderson is expected to resume basketball activities in four-to-eight weeks. Portland will provide additional updates on Henderson’s status “as appropriate.”
Crucially, the announcement doesn’t say that Henderson is expected to return in four-to-eight weeks — it’s just when he’ll resume basketball drills. It’s safe to say that, at minimum, Henderson will miss the start of his third NBA season.
A 6’3″ point guard, Henderson was a highly touted NBA prospect who spent two years with the now-defunct G League Ignite prior to being selected No. 3 overall in the 2023 draft.
Henderson got off to a pretty slow start as a rookie, putting up solid counting stats (14.0 points, 5.4 assists, 3.1 rebounds) but struggling with turnovers (3.4) and efficiency (.385/.325/.814 shooting line) in 62 games (28.5 minutes per contest).
While 21-year-old’s per-36 numbers were quite similar in year two, he showed improvement defensively, took a little better care of the ball, and was more efficient (.419/.354/.767 shooting) in 66 contests, most of which came in a reserve role (26.7 MPG).
The Blazers were already going to be shorthanded in the backcourt after re-signing franchise icon Damian Lillard, who was waived by Milwaukee after suffering a torn Achilles tendon in the playoffs, this offseason.
With Henderson out as well, offseason additions Jrue Holiday and Blake Wesley are candidates for more playing time at the point.
Jrue Holiday ‘Excited’ About Joining Blazers, Not Thinking About Retirement
Although one report in June claimed that Jrue Holiday wasn’t thrilled about being traded from Boston to Portland, there has been no indication since then that the veteran guard is unhappy about his new situation. Speaking to DJ Siddiqi of RG.org, Holiday expressed enthusiasm about the coming season and about the talent on the Trail Blazers‘ roster.
“The goal is to win and to make some noise,” Holiday said. “I think that after the last few years of what has happened after Damian Lillard being traded — and then now Dame’s back — I think it’s an exciting time here in Portland. It’s an exciting time to be a Trail Blazer, and I’m excited to be part of it.”
Holiday, who has three years and $104.4MM left on his contract, was traded straight up for Anfernee Simons, who is on an expiring $27.7MM deal. It was a financially motivated move for the Celtics. For Portland, it was an opportunity to bring in a championship-winning veteran to lead by example for the team’s rising young guards, Scoot Henderson and Shaedon Sharpe, who are 21 and 22 years old, respectively.
“I don’t think y’all understand, like, Scoot and Shaedon are so athletic and so smart the way that they play the game,” Holiday told Siddiqi. “They’re going to be so good, and I feel like all they need is time. I feel like the time is now, because they have all the tools. I’m super excited to play with them.”
Holiday won’t be the only veteran mentor for those young guards — Lillard returned to the Blazers this summer after spending two years in Milwaukee, and head coach Chauncey Billups is a Hall of Famer who made five All-Star teams and won an NBA Finals MVP as a point guard. Holiday is looking forward to teaming up with both of them, noting that he admired how Billups played the game.
“I’m old enough to have watched him play,” Holiday said. “He was one of the guys who I wouldn’t necessarily say mirrored my game after. But I felt like I played similar to how he played. He was very smart, he was obviously more than solid on one side of the ball. The way that he thinks the game, I feel like I think the game the same way. … How he controlled the game just from his personality, and you can see as a coach, he’s kind of brought that over from as a player to a coach and instilled it.”
Billups spent 17 seasons playing in the NBA, which will be the benchmark that Holiday reaches in 2025/26. However, asked by Siddiqi how much longer he wants to play, the former UCLA standout suggested that retirement isn’t in his short-term plans.
“Just kind of going with it,” Holiday said. “I’ve been blessed enough to play for this long, and I’ve never taken that for granted. I know this is a dream come true for most young kids, but I know 17 years is a dream come true for any 35-year-old who gets a chance to stay as healthy as possible and to play the game that they love. I’ll just continue playing until I can’t anymore.”
Jrue Holiday Willing To Play Any Position For Blazers
Point guard Jrue Holiday believes he can coexist in a backcourt pairing with Scoot Henderson. Holiday, who was traded to the Trail Blazers by the Celtics in June, is projected as the starter alongside Shaedon Sharpe with Henderson likely playing a sixth man role.
“Scoot is aggressive,” Holiday said, per Sean Highkin of The Rose Garden Report (Substack link). “How he gets to the basket is amazing. Me being able to space the floor and shoot the three is something that will help him out. Being able to play off him and knowing that Scoot is the next one up and [helping him] showcase what he can do.”
Holiday doesn’t want to be pigeon-holed as a one-dimensional guard.
“I think I play every position,” he said. “I’ve proven that and shown that throughout my career. I’m a complete basketball player. You can’t put one position on someone, the way the game is changing now. Guys who have never played point guard are coming into the league and playing point guard. I’m a good fit with anyone.”
Holiday’s contract was the main reason for the deal from the Celtics’ perspective. Boston was looking to shed salary in order to escape the punitive second tax apron and Holiday will make $32.4MM next season and $104.4MM in total over the next three years.
Holiday is going from a perennial contender to an organization trying to get back into the playoffs for the first time since 2021. He’s hopeful Portland can take that step next season.
“[I’m coming in] not just help out as much as possible, but try to win,” he said. “They have a great coaching staff that have done a lot, and a Hall of Fame coach in Chauncey (Billups). But I think as a current player who’s been through it not too long ago, as far as going through the struggle to win a championship, I still have that feeling and that itch. I’m closer to what that feeling is and how hard it is to actually win.”
Holiday won a championship with Boston with a big assist from Portland’s front office. The Trail Blazers acquired Holiday from the Bucks two years ago in the Damian Lillard trade before general manager Joe Cronin flipped him to the Celtics. Holiday was grateful that the Blazers made that move and he’s willing to do whatever the organization asks of him.
“I really appreciate what they did for me the first time around. That really does mean a lot for me and my career,” he said.
Where Holiday fits in beyond this season remains to be seen. Lillard re-signed with the Blazers on a three-year deal after being waived by Milwaukee. He’ll spend the upcoming season rehabbing an Achilles tendon tear. Holiday said on Tuesday that he’d actually relish the opportunity to play with Lillard next season if he gets the chance.
Lillard: Returning To Blazers Was Both Family, Basketball Decision
After spending the past two seasons with the Bucks, Damian Lillard – who signed a three-year contract over the weekend to return to the Trail Blazers – is thrilled about getting the opportunity to go “back home” and spend more time with his family in Portland, he said at a press conference on Monday.
“We got back in the car (after signing the contract),” Lillard said, per Lindsay Schnell of The Athletic. “I got to a red light, and my daughter goes, ‘Wait, we don’t have to get on the airplane to Milwaukee no more? You’re gonna be in your house? In Portland? The whole time?'”
In addition to Lillard’s three children, his mother and siblings are all in the Portland area, he noted on Monday, according to Anne M. Peterson of The Associated Press.
Still, even though those family considerations played a major role in his decision, rejoining the team with whom he spent the first 11 years of his NBA career wasn’t just about off-court factors, Lillard told reporters, including Sean Highkin of Rose Garden Report (Substack link).
“When we all sat down and this idea started to move towards me signing back here, I’m going to look at the basketball situation,” he said. “We play basketball and you want to win basketball games. A lot of people may look at it as a family decision, and obviously anybody would have their family be a part of a decision that they make. But this was just as much a basketball decision.
“… I’ve watched the team, even at a distance, and I’ve followed and stayed in touch with what was going on. Looking at how the league is trending and how it’s changing, it’s not the same old thing no more. Young teams that guard and have depth and compete and are connected, this team has all of those things. It’s all there, from the talent to the depth to having it on both sides of the ball, it’s all there.”
Although the Blazers missed the playoffs for a fourth straight year in 2025, their 36 wins were the most they’ve compiled in a season since 2020/21, and many of those victories came in the second half — the club went 23-18 following a 13-28 start. Lillard took notice of that improvement from a distance and suggested on Monday that he views the Blazers as “one of those teams that’s coming.”
While he’ll likely spent the entire 2025/26 season recovering from an Achilles tear he suffered in April, the 35-year-old expressed optimism about eventually returning to form. In the meantime, he’s looking forward to getting a chance to mentor the club’s younger players.
“One thing that I’ve missed over the last two years playing on an older team is, I’m able to be more and give more when I have something to pour into,” Lillard said. “When I’m invested in others’ careers more. Having the opportunity to do that, especially having a young, rising point guard like Scoot (Henderson) that I’m gonna be playing with now, and Toumani (Camara) and Deni (Avdija) and Shaedon (Sharpe), who I was with his rookie year.
“Being around those guys and having so much to share and being able to pour into them and be a part of their continued progress is something that elevates me as a player and as a teammate and as a leader. I’m looking forward to that as well, even when I’m playing.”
The Trail Blazers used their full $14,104,000 mid-level exception to sign Lillard, Hoops Rumors has confirmed. His salary will dip slightly to $13,398,800 in year two, followed by a third-year player option worth $14,104,000.
Northwest Notes: Beringer, Henderson, Hansen, Bates
The workout that sealed Joan Beringer‘s selection by the Timberwolves with the 17th overall pick last month took place in Chicago less than a week before the draft, writes Jon Krawczynski of The Athletic.
The Wolves’ front office had been keeping an eye on the young big man, who only started playing basketball at 14 when he grew too big for soccer cleats throughout his season with Cedevita Olimpija. But that late workout allowed Beringer to show his skill set outside of the game tape, and that proved to be the deciding factor for Minnesota’s top decision-makers.
“I remember just catching an eye with [Wolves’ president Tim Connelly] and both of our eyebrows were kind of cocked, like what’s going on here, man,” said director of scouting Joe Connelly.
Beringer’s agent, Jelani Floyd, considered his client’s floor to be No. 16 with Orlando, but when the Magic traded their pick to the Grizzlies, the Wolves contacted him to schedule a last-minute workout — Floyd made the front office come to him.
“My whole thing is like, hey, come in, bring your staff, and we’ll be able to see how serious they were,” Floyd said.
The Wolves found the combination of Beringer’s size, mobility, and balance — which culminated in him performing a free-throw line dunk on command — impressive enough that they decided the French center had to be their guy.
We have more from around the Northwest division:
- Trail Blazers‘ head coach Chauncey Billups is extremely encouraged by the offseason work from Scoot Henderson, who Billups said is having an incredible summer. “He had a tough year last year, only because he didn’t get to play basketball during the summer. He was banged up, he was licking his wounds from the season.” Billups said in a Summer League interview with the ESPN broadcast team (video link). “This year he’s been playing ball all summer, he’s been working on his game, as you said. Scoot is gonna take an incredible leap this year.” Billups also expressed excitement about how Jrue Holiday could help Henderson’s development: “What better guy in the league could you have to raise Scoot and Shaedon [Sharpe]?“
- Yang Hansen was maybe the biggest surprise of the 2025 draft when the Trail Blazers picked him 16th overall, but his Summer League debut went a long way to quieting any doubters, writes Sean Highkin of Rose Garden Report (subscriber link). Hansen put up 10 points, four rebounds, five assists, and three blocks, and while his passing captured a lot of attention, Highkin says that it was his communication with his teammates that was the most impressive part of his debut performance. At least one person within the Blazers organization wasn’t surprised. “You don’t do something that crazy unless you’re sure about it,” said the anonymous staffer.
- Tamar Bates is finding a way to impact the Nuggets‘ Summer League team outside of the box score, writes Bennett Durando of the Denver Post. Bates, who is on a two-way contract, has made an effort to be a vocal leader and communicator out on the floor. “I felt like I made a lot of winning plays,” Bates said. “I made a few shots, but I think the thing I’m most proud of is that I didn’t let a missed shot or a turnover affect my communication (and) my intensity.” Nuggets’ Summer League coach Andrew Munson agreed with the self-assessment. “He’s the loudest guy on the team, in all the right ways,” Munson said.
Reaction To Jrue Holiday-Anfernee Simons Trade
The Celtics pulled off a tremendous swap by not only getting off of Jrue Holiday‘s contract but also getting draft capital in return, John Hollinger of The Athletic opines.
Holiday has three years and $104.4MM left on his deal and it was fair to wonder whether the Celtics would have to attach a first-round pick or two to deal him, Hollinger writes. Instead, they’ll receive Anfernee Simons and two second-rounders from the Trail Blazers.
Boston could extend Simons’ deal — he’s got one year left on his contract, Hollinger notes. It’s also quite possible Simons could be flipped for a player with a lower cap hit as Boston looks to continue shedding salary. The Celtics reached an agreement on another cost-cutting deal on Tuesday, dealing Kristaps Porzingis to the Hawks in a three-team deal that will drop them under the second tax apron.
On the flip side, Hollinger believes this is a baffling move for Portland. The Blazers could have spent another year acquiring young talent and developing players. Instead, they’re trading one of their key sources of offense and handing the point guard duties to Scoot Henderson, who has struggled through his first two seasons.
Aaron Fentress of The Oregonian believes top executive Joe Cronin and coach Chauncy Billups are now in a must-win situation with an ownership change looming (Twitter link). The acquisition of Holiday could help the team reach the postseason and his long-term contract is irrelevant to the current regime, Fentress suggests, since Cronin and Billups might not survive an ownership change if the franchise endures another losing campaign.
The Trail Blazers don’t view themselves as a rebuilding team anymore, according to Sean Highkin of The Rose Garden Report (Substack link), who notes that making the postseason was a stated goal when Cronin and Billups received contract extensions after the team won 23 of its last 41 games.
According to Highkin, Holiday is the type of player that Billups has pined for since Damian Lillard was dealt. Holiday is not only a tough, defensive-minded guard but will provide much needed leadership in the locker room.
Highkin also points out that Cronin effectively picked Henderson over Lillard two years ago by drafting him with the No. 3 overall pick and is now choosing Henderson over Simons. Additionally, Highkin believes Holiday will be more willing to come off the bench behind Henderson than Simons would have been during his walk year, though Fentress (Twitter link) expects Holiday to end up in the starting lineup.
Finally, it’s worth noting that Steve Bulpett of Heavy.com has a source who claims Holiday is upset about being sent to Portland.
“If he winds up staying there, I’m sure he’ll be the professional he’s always been and make a positive contribution,” that source told Bulpett. “But he’s not happy with this deal. I’ll be surprised if Portland doesn’t move him on if they can, because right now he does not want to go there. I’m sure if he has to go to Portland, he’ll end up going and it’ll be OK, but right now they want to be somewhere else. But with that contract, it’s not going to be that easy.”
The idea that the Blazers would give up multiple draft picks to acquire Holiday only to try to trade him to another team doesn’t really pass the smell test, nor does it align with the reporting in the past 24 hours. We’ll see if any other reports corroborate the claim that Holiday is unhappy about the deal, but for now, the comments from Bulpett’s source can probably be taken with a grain of salt.
Draft Notes: Trail Blazers, Mock, Coward, Nets, More
The Trail Blazers hosted a pre-draft workout on Thursday with six high-level prospects, writes Sean Highkin of The Rose Garden Report (subscriber link).
Michigan State guard Jase Richardson (No. 14 on ESPN’s big board), Illinois wing Will Riley (No. 15), Georgia forward/center Asa Newell (No. 19), UConn wing Liam McNeeley (No. 21) and Saint Joseph’s forward Rasheer Fleming (No. 28) are all potential first-round picks, while Chinese center Hansen Yang — a combine standout — is viewed as a possible second-rounder, coming in at No. 67 on ESPN’s list.
As Highkin notes, Portland currently controls one pick in June’s draft, No. 11 overall. The team’s previous workouts mainly focused on less heralded players, but some of today’s group could be in contention for the lottery selection.
Richardson, who says he emulates Mike Conley, is out to prove he can orchestrate an NBA offense.
“There are a lot of questions about what position I can play at the next level,” Richardson said. “Playing at Michigan State, I was a two, because coach [Tom Izzo] wanted me to score. But I want to show teams I’m a point guard and I can facilitate.”
In addition to Portland’s front office and coaches, three players on the current roster — Scoot Henderson, Justin Minaya and Jabari Walker — also attended Thursday’s workout. According to Highkin, Newell thinks he’d fit in well with the Blazers.
“They like to [push] the pace a lot with Scoot and [Donovan] Clingan,” Newell said. “He cleans up anything down low. I think I’d be a plug-and-play player.”
Here are a few more notes related to June’s draft:
- Jonathan Wasserman of Bleacher Report updated his mock draft following Wednesday’s deadline for early entrants to withdraw in order to their NCAA eligibility. Wasserman, who has the Trail Blazers selecting Newell at No. 11, says Washington State forward Cedric Coward appears to be one of the big winners of the pre-draft process, with one scout comparing his rise to that of Jalen Williams, who went No. 12 overall in 2022. Coward goes No. 14 to San Antonio in Wasserman’s mock.
- Freshman guard Tahaad Pettiford was voted by four of his peers as the “most underrated” prospect in the 2025 class, according to ESPN, but he wound up withdrawing and returning to Auburn prior to yesterday’s deadline. Arizona forward Carter Bryant (three votes) and North Carolina guard/forward Drake Powell (two) also received multiple votes. “Carter Bryant is super underrated,” Newell told ESPN. “I just feel like his game translates to the NBA really well. He’s got the size, he’s got the touch, he’s got the 3-point ability. And seeing him, he can definitely be a versatile defender.”
- The Nets held a pre-draft workout on Thursday with six prospects, including Colorado State wing Nique Clifford and Tennessee guards Chaz Lanier and Jahmai Mashack, reports Brian Lewis of The New York Post (via Twitter). According to Lewis, the Nets — who control a league-high five picks (all in the top 35) — also have an upcoming workout scheduled with Duke wing Kon Knueppel (Twitter link). Knueppell (No. 8 on ESPN’s board) and Clifford (No. 24) are projected first-round picks, while sharpshooter Lanier (No. 40) is viewed as a second-rounder.
Blazers Notes: Avdija, Ownership, No. 11, Henderson
The Trail Blazers‘ 2024 trade for Deni Avdija has been a major win for the team so far, as the forward enjoyed a breakout 2024/25 season and established himself as perhaps Portland’s most valuable player, says Aaron Fentress of The Oregonian.
Avdija’s contract, which will pay him $39.4MM over the next three seasons, has turned into one of the NBA’s most team-friendly deals, especially given the star potential he flashed at times this past year. As Fentress writes, the 24-year-old could be in the All-Star conversation next season if he’s able to come anywhere close to matching the 24.9 points, 10.6 rebounds, and 5.5 assists per game (on .508/.431/.816 shooting) he posted during his final 16 appearances in March and April.
Avdija has taken on a leadership role on a Blazers team featuring several core players who are younger than him, telling reporters at the end of the season that he “likes to be an example” with his work ethic. His goal heading into next season is to make more of an impact on the other end of the court.
“The next step for me is to become a great two-way player,” he said, per Fentress. “Be more involved on the defensive end.”
Here’s more on the Blazers:
- Many fans in Portland have been waiting since Paul Allen‘s death in 2018 for the franchise to be sold, according to Sean Highkin of The Rose Garden Report (Substack link), who notes those fans are about to get their wish. The question now is whether a new ownership group will really improve the team’s fortunes, given that ownership changes aren’t always for the best, as Highkin outlines, citing a few NBA examples.
- In a separate Substack article, Highkin considers the Blazers’ options with the No. 11 pick in this year’s draft, acknowledging that it’s still early to get a sense of which prospects Portland might like most at that spot. The team’s inclusion of last year’s No. 14 pick in a deal for Avdija shows the front office is comfortable trading a lottery pick for a more established player, Highkin writes, though he also points out that Avdija was someone the front office targeted for a while and there’s no guarantee there will be a similar fit out there this year.
- Within an explanation of why teams in the back half of the lottery are unlikely to target point guards in the draft, Sam Vecenie of The Athletic cites sources “around the Blazers” who say they’re pleased with the development Scoot Henderson made in the second half of 2024/25. Henderson hasn’t had the sort of impact that many evaluators expected in his first two NBA seasons, but he averaged a solid 14.2 points and 5.2 assists per game on .434/.384/.766 shooting in his final 35 games this year, with Portland going 19-16 during that stretch.
Trail Blazers Parting Ways With Three Assistant Coaches
The Trail Blazers signed head coach Chauncey Billups to a multiyear extension earlier this month, but they won’t be retaining all of his assistant coaches.
According to Aaron Fentress of The Oregonian, Portland has opted against renewing the contracts of assistants Roy Rogers, Chris Fleming, and Ryan Gomes.
Rogers was the longest-tenured assistant of the bunch, having been part of the initial coaching staff following Billups’ hiring in 2021. Rogers, who oversaw the defense, has been on NBA coaching staffs for the better part of two decades. Before arriving in Portland, he also served as an assistant for the Nets, Celtics, Pistons, Wizards, Rockets, Bulls, and Clippers.
Fleming, who previously worked as an assistant for the Nuggets, Nets, and Bulls and was a head coach in Germany, just joined the Trail Blazers a year ago. As Fentress details, Fleming put in plenty of work with second-year guard Scoot Henderson and helped coordinate the club’s offense.
Gomes, a former NBA player, had worked for the Blazers as a player development coach for the last two seasons.
The Blazers are continuing to evaluate their staff and could make additional changes, according to Fentress, who hears from a source that replacements for the departing assistants have not yet been identified. With a multiyear extension in hand, Billups figures to have a major hand in selecting those replacements.
Trail Blazers Notes: Henderson, Clingan, Billups, Offseason
Scoot Henderson looked more like a high lottery pick in his second NBA season than he did as a rookie, writes Aaron Fentress of The Oregonian. The No. 3 selection in the 2023 draft improved his shooting numbers to 41.9% from the field and 35.4% from three-point range and got to play in some significant games as the Trail Blazers remained in play-in contention late in the season.
“I’d say this year, I guess the game kind of slowed down,” Henderson said. “Things like that only come from playing and experiencing the NBA in general … I think I had more fun.”
Fentress adds that Henderson plans to spend the offseason working on his technique in all parts of the game, with an emphasis on learning how to be a better shot creator for himself and his teammates and finishing near the basket with his left hand. His confidence is buoyed by Portland’s success, as the team went 23-18 over the second half of the season and won 10 of 11 games at one point.
“I kind of liked seeing a little bit of who we are,” he added. “We kind of got our swag there, and when we get our swag like that, it’s tough to stop.”
There’s more from Portland:
- Rookie Donovan Clingan began to blossom when starting center Deandre Ayton suffered a season-ending calf injury in early February, Fentress states in a separate story. Clingan started getting consistent playing time and responded by averaging 8.8 points, 9.9 rebounds and 1.8 blocks per game for the rest of the season. “It was great to see DC out there get some good bump,” Ayton said. “Knowing that he’s a two-time national championship guy, I know he wasn’t used to coming off the bench. So, just having the half of the season, starting, you could definitely see the confidence build up. And you saw his body change a little bit, him getting into better shape.”
- In another piece, Fentress shares the details of the contract extension head coach Chauncey Billups received last week. League sources tell Fentress that the Blazers picked up the fifth-year option on Billups’ current deal and added two more seasons, extending it through 2027/28. The new contract is fully guaranteed, Fentress adds, and Billups received a raise, although the amount wasn’t disclosed. Sources tell Fentress that Billups earned about $4.7MM this season.
- The Blazers should stick to their long-term plan and not get caught up in this season’s success, contends Sean Highkin of Rose Garden Report (subscription required). He compares the situation to the 2016 offseason when Portland invested heavily in free agents after Damian Lillard led the team to an unexpected fifth seed and a first-round playoff victory.